Rest & Digest

by Liz SkarvelisNovember 20, 20182 min read

Most of us are forging ahead at lightning speed: going, doing, scrolling, talking, walking, racing to do all the “To-Dos” not only with our bodies, but also our minds. However, are you giving yourself time to rest and digest? You need time to digest not only the food you eat, but also experiences, conversations, and information you receive. Restorative practices are intended to give you time and space to rest and digest your body and your mind. Below are 3 restorative postures that can be practiced as a sequence or as a solo posture. Props: one bolster, two blocks, one strap.

Constructive Rest - Lie on your back, bend your knees, place the soles of your feet on the ground. Walk your feet apart from one another; if you are on a yoga mat, walk your feet as wide as the sides of your yoga mat. Place a block in between your legs (length wise) and wrap a strap around your thighs and the block. Allow your low back to broaden and expand. Optional: place a blanket under the back of your head.

Supported Child’s Pose - Place two blocks underneath a bolster on the lowest height (one block under the top of the bolster and one block under the bottom). Take wide leg child’s pose, resting the front of your torso on the bolster. Wrap your hands around the bolster and rest your arms under the bolster in the space between the blocks.

Supported Savasana - Lie in traditional savasana and place a bolster under your knees OR under your knees and calves (depending on size of bolster). Allow your knees to naturally fall open. Place a blanket under the back of your head.

Once you have set yourself up in the posture, close your eyes and stay for 5-10 minutes in each pose. A restorative practice is your chance to effort LESS and to soften into.

Meet Our Writers

Our Writers

Julie Bertagna

Julie Bertagna is a 500 RYT and certified Baptiste yoga teacher who teaches Baptiste power yoga and recovery yoga at Namaspa Yoga & Massage, as well as in her home studio, The Yoga Loft, in Bend. She is a mother and a grandmother, she loves the outdoors, and she still pursues dental hygiene one day a week! In the summer, she spends time at her partner's retreat venue, Vernonia Springs, which puts on retreats and special events. More information about Julie’s offerings can be found on her website, www.juliebertagnayoga.com.

Liz Skarvelis

Yoga is everything to Liz. It's her physical and spiritual practice, her political action, and her love song to both herself and the world. She started practicing yoga in college and grew her roots when she moved to San Francisco in 2008. She practiced Bhakti Yoga (yoga of love and devotion) at Yoga Tree Castro with Janet Stone, who she considers her first and primary teacher. Yoga brings her freedom of mind, stillness of spirit, and strength of being that she strives to share with others. Her classes are soft and strong and everything in between; she includes meditation, breath work, and space to connect you to your truest self. You can also expect a few helpings of (occasionally funny) humor. For more information, go to her website: www.lovebirdyoga.com

Fae Leslie Hoffman

Fae is a butterfly leaf girl. She teaches yoga, cartwheels in the rain, reads ferociously, and is learning how to listen to stillness. Fae has been published in The Southampton Review, elephant journal, Mukha Yoga, and writes best barefoot. She completed her 200-hour teacher training with Leslie Pearlman and is trained in Vinyasa with a fierce Forrest influence. She is also certified in Thai massage and has taught in New York, Thailand, Oregon, Wisconsin, and deep in the backwoods of California. Yoga makes her brave.

Zia Estrella

An exotic stargazer from the land of the intuitive ones, Zia embodies physicality, possibility, and empowerment in lighthearted playfulness. She loves the truth with allherheart and lives it with allherbeing. She grounds down intoherdeep dark Taína roots to rise. Humbled to practice and study yoga since 2007, she lives in wholeness, giving full credit to each and every emotion she experienceswhileembracing the power of the now moment. Shiftingherperspective to realize the eternal inner light within isher Dharma. She got turned upsidedown on the True North path of yoga and she rememberedherPrem - TruthLoveBeauty. This isherdeepest source of empowerment, creativity, joy and peace. May she transform darkness into light throughherown journey and serve all beings everywhere in truth, love and beauty. Learn more at www.scorpiorisingyoga.com

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Adho Mukha in Sanskrit means "Facing", Our name Mukha Yoga came about because in our life's we are all on a journey of some kind and as we stand to look and face them we are reminded through yoga to breathe and flow